Cell-phone virus getting smart

[Colin Dunstan]

You knew it was only a matter of time until those viruses became smart enough to do serious harm to your cell phone. The Slate runs an article examining what harm could be done to you or your cell. In short: it could cost you money.

Several security officials told me that a scam artist could write a worm that invades your phone, waits patiently until 4 a.m., then makes an hourlong call to an overseas phone-sex line that bills you by the minute. Sure, you could call your mobile carrier and plead that you didn't make the call, but you'll just seem like another in-denial porn hound. Pay up, pervert. Of course, once the scam became public, the FBI or some other government agency could try to shut the phone line down. But a scam like that only needs to operate for an hour to collect plenty of phone fees. And if the line is located in Russia or China—where most of today's criminal viruses emerge—it could be almost impossible to shut it down quickly.

Phone companies like to think of their networks as gated communities; but do they really have control over what is installed on my phone? I am afraid once evil is in my phone, it'll be hard for them to keep it from spreading.